Sustainable Jersey is a certification program for municipalities in New Jersey that want to go green, save money and take steps to sustain their quality of life over the long term.

Sustainable Jersey identifies concrete actions that municipalities can implement to become "certified" and be considered leaders on the path to sustainable communities. They provide access to grants and identify existing and new funding opportunities for municipalities to make progress toward the actions.

New Jersey is the first state in the nation to have a comprehensive sustainability program for communities that links certification with strong state and private financial incentives and a fully resourced program of technical support and training. Sustainable Jersey has streamlined, incentivized and guided the process.

Sustainable Jersey for Schools

Sustainable Jersey for Schools, launched in 2014, extends Sustainable Jersey certification to district and individual school levels. Completion of earth-conscious action items are incentivized through financial grants and training opportunities that enable participants to accomplish goals.

The program takes a comprehensive approach toward energy and natural resource conservation through People, Prosperity, and Planet action categories. Items range from community outreach events, implementation of green policies, energy audits/upgrades, sustainability-integrated lesson plans for students and green infrastructure installation.

How can Greater Mercer TMA help?

GMTMA has the knowledge and resources to assist communities in completing some Sustainable Jersey and Sustainable Jersey for Schools actions. We have established programs that can be a basis for actions such as Anti-Idling Education and Enforcement Programs, Safe Routes to School, sustainability-oriented lesson plans and activities for all grade levels, pedestrian and bike programs and assistance with complete streets. To learn more about how GMTMA can assist your Green Team, community or school, please contact Ian Henderson at ihenderson@gmtma.org.